I believe it was the great sports philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson who stated, “Success in hockey is not the destination, it’s the journey.’’

Or something like that.

Rochester Americans defenseman Zach Redmond learned a long time ago to enjoy the ride.

To savor every shift like it could be his last. To sit sweat-soaked in a locker room with teammates after each practice and game and think, “Wow, it doesn’t get better than this.’’

Twice doctors told Redmond his hockey playing days were over. Finished. Kaput.

The first time, he was only 15 years old and had suffered a stroke during a tournament in Toronto while playing midget hockey for Compuware, a powerhouse program out of Detroit.

The second time he was 24 and playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL when a teammate’s skate blade rode up his right pant leg, slicing his femoral artery and vein while also damaging his groin, hamstring and quadriceps muscle.

🎥WATCH | “Everything about playoff hockey is ramped up,” said Amerks head coach Chris Taylor. “The excitement level is increased, everyone has higher energy and shifts are shorter. It will be tough, be we are preparing for it. pic.twitter.com/swARocLxHT

Maybe it was the innocence of youth that got Redmond back on the ice after his stroke, a medical fluke in which the inside wall of an artery in his brain was torn. He had to learn to walk and talk again but in three months was back to normal.

Maybe it was just raw strength and determination that got him to resume his professional career after losing half the blood in his body and needing 200 stitches to sew up his leg after his freak injury during a practice on Feb. 21, 2013.

There’s no question the role expert medical care and family support played.

And there’s no question a man gains a lot of perspective when faced with living or dying. When your slap shot accuracy and your next contract truly become secondary concerns.

“I definitely look at things a bit differently,’’ said Redmond, 29, after a brisk morning workout at Blue Cross Arena. “When something like that happens and life becomes more a living experience, it puts things in perspective about what’s important.

“There was a point where I might have taken the game very seriously, and it is your job. But I’ve also found out through those experiences that you have to let it be fun, too. You don’t know how long it’s going to last and if you’re out there just grinding and not enjoying the ride, you’re going to wish you laughed a little more and done some stuff differently because at the end of the day, it’s just a game.’’

Good advice for a professional athlete. Good advice for us all.

After leading the Amerks in scoring, the first defenseman to do so since Mike Kostka in 2010-11, Redmond leads Rochester into its first Calder Cup playoff appearance in four seasons against the Syracuse Crunch.

Games 1 and 2 of the five-game series between the Thruway rivals are Friday and Saturday in Syracuse. Game 3 is Wednesday, April 25 in Rochester.

Redmond, who joined the Buffalo Sabres organization last October in a trade with Montreal for Nick Deslauriers, was one of the veteran additions so critical in the Amerks’ success this season. A season in which the organization put some shine back on “the shield.’’

In playing 66 games, his most in the AHL since playing 72 for St. John’s during his rookie season of 2011-12, the Traverse City, Michigan native notched career highs for goals (15), assists (32) and points (47).

He led the team in shots with 180 and power-play goals with eight. He finished just three goals shy of breaking the franchise record for goals by a defenseman, 18, set by Amerks Hall of Famer Rick Pagnutti some 45 years ago.

Redmond’s reputation as a consummate pro enters a room before he does.

He has always had a bit of an offensive touch — he had five goals and 15 assists in 59 games for the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL in 2014-15. But this season’s explosion was still a pleasant surprise for rookie coach Chris Taylor. Like finding money in an old pair of pants.

“I didn’t know he had this much offense,’’ Taylor said. “It was a great surprise and he also contributes defensively; he’s one of our hardest guys to play against. And you know, he could have more points. He’s hit a lot of crossbars. He just knows when to jump into the play and when to stay back, he’s creative with the puck and he’s got a great shot. He’s a guy who gets pucks through. A lot of guys get their shots blocked, but he gets them through or he sees guys at the side of the net, just a high hockey IQ.’’

Having played for eight teams during his seven-year pro career, Redmond attributed his personal-best point production to simply being able to unpack his suitcase for a change.

Ever humble, you could mount a bicycle horn on his stick and he wouldn’t toot it.

Rochester American's defenseman Zach Redmond hits the brakes during drills during the team's practice Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial in Rochester. (Photo: SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/, SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/staff pho)

“I didn’t have a good gauge on what I could do with a full season with one team and more experience under my belt,’’ he said. “It’s much easier to get into the flow of the game and it went well. A big reason was the coaches trusting me and, face it, we have a good team and things just got rolling.’’

He and his teammates hope to keep it rolling against a very good Syracuse club that notched 100 points and compiled the AHL’s second-most penalty minutes at 1,225.

Redmond, a star at Ferris State where he was a Hobey Baker candidate and captain, helped St. John’s reach the Calder Cup finals in 2013-14, notching 14 points in 21 playoff games. He parlayed that into a solid two-year NHL stint with the Avalanche, proof that good things do happen to good guys.

Rochester American's defenseman Zach Redmond keeps his eyes on the on-ice action between shifts during the team's practice Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial in Rochester. (Photo: SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/, SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/staff pho)

Of course, hockey is a cold, tough business. He could not have predicted a return to the minors. Or that Rochester, past home to hockey legends, would be in his future.

“There’s no predicting,’’ he said. “You have to catch a break somewhere and just make sure you’re on it every day, especially in the NHL, you’re replaceable up there and it can go the other way very fast. For my career, I feel I’ve done all I can. I work hard and do the little stuff but it’s going to go the way it goes.’’

That’s why it’s not about the destination that matters, it’s the journey.

While a deep playoff run would enhance opportunities for young prospects in the Sabres’ organization, Zach Redmond has not kicked the can for the last time.

“He’s thought of very highly in this organization, as a leader and a player,’’ Taylor said. “We want everyone to get to the NHL and we want him to do well these playoffs also, because it will help him achieve his goals.’’

Redmond, a triplet with brother Alex and sister Meaghan, said he inherited his everything-happens-for-a-reason philosophy on life from his mother, Kim.

The stroke influenced his decision to play in college and get an education rather than jump to the Ontario Hockey League, where the club he was going to join was hesitant about providing him with medical coverage.

The skate blade injury with Winnipeg led him to three other NHL organizations where he was able to experience different people, places and things.

Like a Rochester Americans squad that is tighter knit than a hockey sock.

“I can speak for the whole team, everyone enjoys coming to the rink, grabbing their coffee and sitting around telling stories,’’ Redmond said.

And his stories of medical miracles serve to inspire those around him. When he can say, “Boys, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey’’ and really mean it.